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The first sale

So, my girlfriend was planning for the village wide yard sale and told me I should bring my guitars over and try to sell them.
Well you wouldn't think that I would sell anything at a simple yard sale, but sure enough I sold two guitars, and two cigar box amps and some slides.
Just goes to show you that people will buy if they like what see.
The next step will be to get myself into an actual craft fair. Seems like I could make a killing.
So the question to you all is where did you sell your first guitars and how were they received by the masses?

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Permalink Reply by Kirk on September 18, 2018 at 10:09am

I've been trying to build up an inventory, so I can hit a show, but I build slow. I've been lucky so far that as I finish one, somebody online offers to buy it. I think I've finally hit a point ... and I'll see shortly ... that I can build up a small inventory. I have two builds coming out of the wood shed very soon, and pics/videos shortly after that. If I have no offers, that'll be two, for the festival or craft show inventory.

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Permalink Reply by Blues Frog on September 19, 2018 at 6:34am

My inventory has built up over the past three years or so of building. I've been going a lot slower as of late, but when I start building it goes fairly quickly

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Permalink Reply by Lonman on September 18, 2018 at 11:03pm

In July I participated as a vendor for the local APL fundraiser, and sold 4 items of the 7 I had. I was pleased. In October will do another fundraiser the APL is having so looking forward to taking the remaining 3 items and the last 2 builds I finished; Spirit of '76 II 2 string and the 3 string baritone. I am not hardcore into doing venues, but like doing them when I have enough to sell.

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Permalink Reply by Blues Frog on September 19, 2018 at 6:39am

I haven't tried to sell any really, until now. I did have someone request a canjo as a christmas gift last year though.

Maybe now I have a little more incentive.

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Jordan on September 26, 2018 at 10:45am

The first I built to sell I put on Ebay.,.,and it was bid up to $31.,.,this caused me to build 150+ more .,.,but I find it is priceless therapy.,.,

once I did sell one to an Ebay junkie.,., her husband closed the door on it (crushed)and sent it back,.,,."not as described" once it was crushed.,.,I put a new box on it and it sold again.,.,

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Permalink Reply by Grandpa on October 2, 2018 at 1:17pm

Frog, for as long as you've been posting, I figured you were a selling veteran. Glad to read about your first sale. I, too, have been building for a little over 3 years, and have been fortunate enough to make a number of sales, all in person. I don't do online..my choice. I have sold guitars at craft fairs, art walks here in town, vintage swap meets, even at a juried art festival earlier this year (my best weekend ever -10 gits sold!). I also sold a git at my own yard sale last year...who knew? My experience with live sales at events is that loading up, hauling over, setting up, demo'ing, take down, haul home, put away is a ton of work, and sometimes I only sold 1 git in a day, which covered the event entry fee and lunch. Usually, 2, or 3, or 4. It can be disheartening, but in a week or two, when a caller with my business card from an event wants a CBG, it gets good. Doesn't happen every time, but enough that I'll keep doing it. This isn't eating money for me, but a hobby that pays for itself. Doesn't pay much for my time, but the love of the build is why I'm in it. I recently completed no. 82, and I have 18 gits in my garage right now. So selling, and even better in some ways, gifting, is keeping me rolling. Good luck to you going forward.

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Permalink Reply by Blues Frog on October 5, 2018 at 5:12pm

I just had a guy contact me who had taken one of my cards at the yard sale. He wants to stop by and look at them and is interested in buying one, so who knows, another may soon be out the door.

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Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on October 5, 2018 at 1:24am

I've been building and selling for 5 years... It comes in spurts... just as I get frustrated that I have too many hanging, a few people find me and buy them...

My biggest event is the local Maker Faire, where I sell DIY Kits... I have 30 kits, plus 35 Canjo kits... I'm betting I sell out...

That normally gets me enough interest that I sell an Uke or two, and then get a custom build order...

It's a TON of work, though.. and like Shane says: PLAY, PLAY, PLAY! This year, I have a ringer who's going to play all weekend so I can focus on sales...

Woo Hoo!

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Permalink Reply by Blues Frog on October 5, 2018 at 5:14pm

My brother keeps telling me to set up at an event and I keep telling him to come along and play them. He's a much better musician than I am.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff 'Bones' Reilly on October 5, 2018 at 3:04am

I had a few mates that I play 6 string with buy a few ,I’ve sold one to Dave Lynas a member of the nation which I take as a feather in my cap , then I approached one of the bigger music store in town to take some on consignment which I didn’t think I would sell any through but so far I’ve sold 15 through them and they keep ordering more from me , I also have a Coffee shop called Shot gun coffee in Hobart that taken 5 of my guittys on consignment and have bought 3 of me to have in the shop for people to play . I thinks it’s great you have been able to sell at yard sales good luck in the future with the sales .